William Barak Bridge

The William Barak Bridge is named after William Barak who was a member of the Wurundjeri people. He was a diplomat, negotiator and artist who was a powerful leader and advocate for his people.
The bridge is up to 9 metres wide and 525 metres long and gives lift access to the ground level precinct and the Number 70 tram - and the opportunity to enjoy commanding views of the City; a land bridge which joins Melbourne's CBD with the famous MCG and other nearby sporting venues.

AS you walk along the bridge, you enter a sonic corridor of voice recordings of people from the 53 Commonwealth nations represented in Australia. Central to the work are the voices of the area’s original custodians, the Wurundjeri people. Each person sings a traditional song from his/her background with the voices interwoven to create a continually shifting soundscape. Commissioned for the 2006 Commonwealth Games, it’s an evocative tribute to diversity.The installation includes applied paintwork, 60 grilles, 56 loudspeakers, 4 sensors and 24 channels. Below are close-ups of the artwork from which they can be heard.